Chapter 11: But

A/N: Part two is here! It's gonna be roughly the same length as part one. I saw all your lovely reviews for last chapter, but couldn't respond to them without spoiling the plot. This chapter should start to explain some things...

The alarm went off at six am on the dot, Regina rising up from Egyptian Cotton sheets and turning it off. Then she slipped out of bed and began to get ready for her day of work. She had a routine she liked to follow. Using the bathroom for 15 minutes, then getting dressed in ten, then going downstairs and brewing her coffee while she perused the news at a quiet volume so as not to disturb the sleeping person upstairs.

Coffee done, she put it in a travel mug and was out her door, keys in hand by 6:30. The drive over to her office only took ten minutes in this small town, regardless if there was traffic or not, most often there not being traffic due to how small this place was.

It was quaint, something Regina hadn't imagined would work for her given her mother's grand ambitions for her. But, Regina had taken the job out of spite to her mother and now it was too late to back out of it. Besides, she liked this small town. She had grown up in it after all and put down some deep roots. She knew everyone and everyone knew her. It made her job so much easier or harder, depending on the day.

She pulled her vintage Mercedes Benz into the parking lot and was in her office by 6:40, setting up her computer, opening the shades, taking out the files she needed, and organizing her planner. She took a moment to sit down behind the grand mahogany desk and sip on her vanilla bean coffee. She let out a low murmur of content.

She was happy where her life was right now. She didn't want much from it. She just wanted to be able to do a good job, help those in need, and feel satisfied from it.

And this job kept Cora away. Cora had grown tired of the small town life and had moved away to LA. This put a whole country in between them and Regina couldn't be happier. They only had to see each other over holidays and with Regina's father gone five years now, Cora had become even more unbearable. The buffer Regina's father had acted as to stop the chafing between Regina and Cora was no longer there. And given how Regina was older now, she had more of a backbone against her mother than before. A backbone she wished she had developed years ago when she needed it most, but better late than never she supposed.

She and her mother fought, a lot. Vicious fights that left the other bleeding from metaphorical claws being dug into skin. There wasn't a single time they didn't cross their paths that they didn't fight.

Over nothing.

Over everything.

It was maddening. Regina liked to avoid Cora as much as she could if only for her own sanity. But mother was lonely now, only having one person left that she could sink her talons into. Cora had controlled too much of Regina's life, deciding what Regina should eat, wear, even what hobbies she should like. Regina was over it now. She would not let it happen any longer.

College had given her the strength she needed, though, to this day there were still some things that Regina could simply not talk her mother out of her. In those cases, she had to fold for her mother wasn't above using down and dirty tactics to hurt Regina and twist her into doing what she wanted. It was why Regina had tried to hide as much of her personal life from her mother as she could. In this way, her mother would not have the ammunition needed to hurt her.

As she looked at her ring, Regina feels old and new feelings mingle together on this one topic she could not get out of no matter what. And maybe she hadn't wanted to, not at the time. Because she had been still reeling from the loss of her secret relationship and she needed something to fill the hole, make her forget, make her know that nothing was wrong with her. That she could love and that her love was good and hadn't been the reason for the disaster of her last relationship. She closed her hand, the elegant band of gold winking sadly.

By 7:00 am, Regina is finally all set up to do her work, and her secretary calls her in, asking if she needs anything to start her day.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you," Regina says over the intercom before settling in for a full day of work. She has a lot on her plate today. An afternoon full of meetings, a morning full of paperwork that needs to organized. Regina types away diligently, the sunlight softly streaming into her office. Birds are chirping outside. Everything is running smoothly and she's been super productive when her secretary calls her.

"Ms. Mills, you have a Robin Lockesly requesting to see you."

Regina could barely stifle her groan in time. "What does that insipid man want now?"

"He says he wants to speak with you."

"Does he have a meeting with me?" Regina knew he didn't, but she had to tell the sectary to ask. There's a lull as she does ask Robin and then she answers back. "He says no, but that this is urgent."

Of course. Everything pertaining to him is urgent, Regina thinks with heavy sarcasm. "Tell him I'm busy-"

But she doesn't get to finish because he's striding into her office, barging past the secretary.

"Ms. Mills, I'm so sorry-" the red cheeked girl says as Robin strides in with that cocky stride of his, that remains unbroken by the displeasure evident on Regina's face.

"It's fine," Regina says sourly, dismissing the girl back. Robin's already here. She might as well deal with it. Perhaps she ought to hire a male secretary to keep Robin out.

"Robin," she says coolly, ending the intercom line. "Why are you here?" She doesn't bother to hide her distaste of him. He's pompous and has his head so far up his ass all he can do is talk shit.

"Regina, you look beautiful as ever," he says, southern twang grating on her nerves already much like his compliment.

"We are at work hours, need I remind you, Robin. And such comments are not appropriate."

"Gotcha," he winks at her and she stews in more anger. "Compliments for after work. Like drinks."

"No, not like drinks," Regina cannot stress enough. Sometimes it feels like she's talking to a toddler.

"I'll get us a dinner reservation," he winked again.

"I don't want dinner with you either," she says coldly.

"Well, I can't offer any more than that, right now. But I love the propositioning for something else. It flatters me to know you think we'd be great at sleeping together."

This is just blatant sexual harassment at this point and despite how much Regina would like to throw her stapler at this dumb head, she has to remain composed. She reminds herself, she is better than him and will not stoop to engaging in his vile words.

"Robin, why are you here? You entered my office without permission and are wasting my time. I have some very important things to attend to," she indicated to her computer screen.

"Yes, I know you think writing your little notes is important but I have a huge issue," he said dismissively, shoving his hands deep into his tan suit pockets.

Belittling her work too. Not the first time.

"And what is your big issue, Robin, that it could not wait until later?" she asked, with a hint of exasperation.

"I'm glad you asked," he said and took a seat in front of her, settling in for a long conversation about nonsense. Regina held in another groan.

By the time it was one, Robin had successfully thrown off her whole schedule and bored her to nearly tears talking about his fish farming industry. She couldn't be happier when he finally decided to leave because he had another meeting to get to. He stood up, buttoning up his suit jacket. "We should continue this over dinner," he told her, throwing in another awful wink at the end. Did he think he looked good doing those or something?

"Robin, I am married," she said flashing her hand at him.

"All I see is a ring and not a husband."

"I'm gay," she said flatly, her nostrils flaring with anger. She was going to be arrested for manslaughter any second now if he didn't leave the premises soon.

"Right," he laughed loudly and then left, humming to himself without a care in the world, and with a bounce to his step. Regina stared murderously at his back before turning back to her work which was severely off schedule now.

Regina is home by six and when she comes inside her lovely mansion, she can smell dinner. She steps in, hanging up her light jacket and setting down her briefcase on the side table before stepping into the kitchen and finding a blonde head faced away from her. For a second Regina imagines, like a ghostly unwelcome thought, that it's-

"Hi!" Kathryn spins around and smiles exuberantly at Regina, holding up both their plates of food, still warm.

"Hello," Regina says, smiling back to hide her momentary sadness and leaning in to peck Kathryn on the cheek.

"How was work?" Kathryn asks as they sit down, beginning to eat.

"The same. Lots of paperwork, having meetings filled with idiots, and Robin bothering me again."

"Doesn't he get that you're married?" Kathryn huffed as she speared a noodle onto her fork.

"You would think the ring would be a big enough clue but it seems he's lost his brain from being out in the sun too long on his yacht, lording over his shrimp."

Robin was a big time fish company CEO who had fishing industries all over the east coast. For some reason he liked to frequent Regina's town even though it only produced small amounts of fish commercially. She really hoped he wasn't going out of his way to be here just for her.

If that was the case she'd have to get a restraining order.

God knows the whole town could benefit from it and his fishy smelling hands.

"What do I have to do? Show up at work when he next appears and show how taken you are?" Kathryn suggested as Regina took out a glass of wine and poured some for the two of them. It was a vintage, aged forty years. It was a red and would be paired excellently with the meal.

"I doubt even that would work," Regina said with a sigh and gulped down her glass before filling another one.

Kathryn giggled at this. "You know, speaking of marriage...it's been six years since we've been married..." Kathryn stated a hint coyly, taking Regina's hand into her own just as Regina plucked up the stem of wine with her other.

"You're not getting what plans I have for our anniversary out of me," Regina stated. "Don't even try." She had something romantic planned for their anniversary this year. She had even taken off a week's worth of time for this.

"That's not what I was alluding too," Kathryn said, lowering her voice. "How about after dinner we finally settle down and have some fun without protection," Kathryn waggled her brows salaciously.

"We never do that," Regina said, finding herself a bit confused by all this.

"I know. Maybe we should."

"I know you're on the pill but there's still a risk-"

"I'm fine with the risk," Kathryn cuts in, letting go of Regina's hand and beginning to look a bit frustrated now. Regina furrows her brows, trying to understand.

"Kathryn..."

"I think it's time," Kathryn quickly states.

"Time?" Regina blinked, lost due to the quick pace of this. "Time for what?"

Kathryn looks mildly exasperated as if Regina shouldn't possibly be this thick given her job but she continues on. "I want children, Regina," Kathryn says bluntly, tired of dancing around the issue. Regina nearly chokes on her wine. She coughs a little bit and sets it down. "Excuse me?"

"Kids," Kathryn repeats more forcefully. "I'm not getting any younger, nor are you, and I want them before it's too late."

Regina is rarely speechless, this is one of the times. "Uh..." she scrambles to find words but her brain is short circuiting. She knows Kathryn is an omega and it's in her biology to want children, but Regina had never thought it would be so soon.

She'd thought she had more time before this came up. Honestly, she's not even sure she's ready for kids. But now that Kathryn has come out so openly on this matter, Regina recalls a few times in the past when Kathryn had tried to get her to opinion on the topic and Regina had causally given a nonchalant answer with no thought behind it.

"Are you...sure?" she questioned. "Kids are a lot of work and I work long hours. Will I even be there for them?"

"Regina, you'll be a great parent," Kathryn soothed, trying to win Regina over. "Besides, you'll have me to watch over them. I can drop my interior designing job so I can spend time with them and take care of them so you can remain in office and do your good work."

Regina sits back, appetite lost. "It's...it's a big decision Kat."

"I know."

"We should talk about this more."

"I'm done waiting," Kathryn stated. "I've waited all this time. Six years is a long time, Regina, to not have your kids."

Regina furrowed her brows up and offered a slightly sheepish look. She had no idea Kat's omega side wanted this so badly. She had always assumed they were going to be one of those kid-less mates. Both of them had been so career oriented and now?

"I didn't know this," Regina said, trying to explain away. "I thought you were fine with what we had."

"I didn't say anything because I didn't want to push you," Kathryn said softly, easing up on Regina. "I know our marriage was arranged and I know you weren't sure going into it, but I want you, Regina. I chose you. My family chose you. It means we must have something special between us."

Regina thinned her lips, wishing she had a better poker face in front of Kat. But Kat had always been her best friend first and foremost. She had been the most understanding one out of all of them. And the one that had stuck around. Mal had gone on to marry William and start up a fashion empire of which she sometimes sent Regina the newest fabrics. Cruella had also gone into fashion and she and Mal were in rivalry. She too sent Regina clothing to try on and show off.

Ursula had gone into something unexpected. She had gone into art despite having hated it in high school. But seemed she was good with trading it and she had made a lot of money from it. They had all moved on and out of Storybrooke, only Regina and Kathryn staying behind.

Why had they stayed behind? Kat did it for Regina and for their arranged marriage. But why had Regina? Had it been because of memories? Because of what she had lost here and desperately hoped would return to her? Was she afraid if she moved too far she'd lose the chance of ever having it again?

But it had been years. Ten, in fact. And she still held out a glimmer of hope from time to time, when she was feeling especially vulnerable. She knew she shouldn't. Even Ruby had given up. The brunette too hadn't left town, only taking over Granny's diner and running it when the woman became too frail to do most of the work.

Was Ruby also waiting for something or was she just a victim of poverty and family duty that she could not leave?

Regina nodded her head. She wasn't entirely convinced she should start a family. Not convinced she deserved it. "Okay. If you really want this..."

"I do," Kathryn said earnestly, their dinner long forgotten between them. Before anything more could be said the doorbell rang. Kathryn groaned out. Who was interrupting her time with Regina? It rang again, and again. Just who was it?

"I'll get it, and then we'll continue this," Regina said, getting up from her seat. She went to the foyer and looked through the peephole. She half expected it to be Robin, coming to take her on the horrid date she had no intention of going to.

Seriously, what was wrong with him? Had the sea rotted his brain?

She's sees someone short on the other end.

"Hello?" Regina opened the door, Kathryn following after her.

"Hi," a brown haired boy who looked to be about ten years old smiled up at her. What was a kid doing here? He had a dufflebag with him and his hair was rumpled like he had woken up on a bus.

"You're not a boy scout, are you," Regina deduced dryly, giving his cheap clothes a look over. He decidedly was not wearing their uniform.

"No, I'm not."

"Are you lost?"

He shook his head no to this.

"Why are you here then?" Regina asked in the least rude way she could.

"I'm here for you," he pointed at Regina, smiling widely at her. "I'm so happy I finally get to meet you!"

Was he a fan of hers? Regina doubted her work had many fans, especially anyone this young.

"Thank you?' she questioned, feeling Kathryn burning up with her own questions.

"I'm Henry," the little boy stuck out his hand. "I'm your son."

Silence.

Absolute silence. Regina isn't even sure she heard right. Behind her Kathryn shifts uneasily.

"When I said kids, I meant our own," Kathryn said coldly and left, leaving Regina still gaping at the kid on her doorstep.